ColorChip and Molex Announce Joint Development of QSFP+ 40G-LR4 Pluggable Module with Duplex LC Interface

“The collaboration between our two companies allowed us to combine our complementary areas of expertise,” said Tom Marrapode, director of marketing, Molex Fibre Optics. “ColorChip applied its knowledge of PLC technology to design the transceiver concept, electronics and optical integration scheme, while Molex tapped into its broad experience with mechanical integration and packaging to bring the module to completion.”

The transceiver uses ColorChip's System-On-Glass™ (SOG) PLC-based integrated optics and Molex's mechanics to create the industry's first 40G-LR4 Singlemode LC interface pluggable module in a QSFP form factor. ColorChip's advanced SOG waveguide technology implements CWDM multiplexing of four 10G DFB lasers to achieve 40G-LR4 performance in an industry standard QSFP+ pluggable module format.

“By using a QSFP+ form factor with duplex Singlemode LC connector as the module interface we were able to reduce costs compared to current CFP 40G-LR4 modules,” said Eli Arad, vice president of R&D, ColorChip. “It will allow vendors to design systems with higher port density and lower power consumption, simplifying installation and maintenance processes while maintaining the same high-speed, small-form factor product that customers demand.”